Stage Cred: Two years in Wicked’s second national tour, working her way up from ensemble to Elphie, plus a stint on the road as Maureen in Rent.

“Idina Menzel was my idol growing up. She has a low, raspy voice like mine! When I heard Rent for the first time, I thought, ‘This is a show I could be in.’ Then I saw her in Wicked, and I burst into tears because she was such a huge influence on me.”

“I sang ‘The Wizard and I’ for a jury of my teachers [at Hartt School of Music in Connecticut] at the end of my sophomore year. I had worked on the song for a year, and that’s when I realized I might have the range to play Elphaba someday.”

“Wicked fans are awesome. On opening night, my dressing room looked like a florist shop, and so many were from fans [known as “Dwyers Flyers”]. They’re always there to lift you up.”

“My dad found an old photo of me in a witch costume and put it on a coffee mug with my Elphaba press shot. It says, ‘Our daughter had a dream…and it came true.’ I cried!”

“Performing for autistic children was one of the most moving experiences of my life. The lights were up and the sound was lowered; we could see people laughing and singing along. They understood the story in a way most audiences don’t.”

“After the Rent tour I worked at a bar. I folded clothes. I did odd jobs for years to make rent and sang in concerts for no money. I knew it would be difficult, but this is the career I dreamt about, and it’s pretty crazy to me that I’m actually here.”